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Support Local Farmers and Sustainable Foods at Austin Farmers’ Market

September 5, 2012 by

Support local farmers and small businesses while buying the freshest produce and gourmet foods at Austin Farmers’ Market. Opened in 2003, the Market has since become the place to go for sustainable food in Austin, with numerous vendors offering organic goods—many eagerly offering samples to try! Besides fresh foods, Austin Farmers Market holds a number of events and programs, from cooking classes by master chefs to seasonal festivals and celebrations. The markets also strive to environmentally conscious by placing compost bins for visitors to bring their trash from home, as well as water stations for filling up bottles with clean water for a few cents ($2 to start). Austin Farmers Maret is open year-round; for locations, days, and times, visit the Austin Farmers’ Market website at www.austinfarmersmarket.org.

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Austin Summer Fun: River Tubing on the San Marcos and Guadalupe Rivers

August 7, 2012 by

People don’t often connect rivers with Texas, but the central part of the state around Austin is remarkably lush and green, criss-crossed by a number of pleasant bodies of water. The most popular choice for innertubers is the San Marcos River; about a 40 minute drive from downtown Austin, it’s fed by underground springs, making it a pleasant 70 degrees during the floating season, which lasts from April through September. Starting below the Spring Lake dam, you’ll be on the river for between two and six hours. At certain points, you’ll cross over small dams with chutes to speed your ride up, which add a little bit of excitement. The Guadalupe River is another popular destination, with water that flows a little faster and colder but still very comfortable. There are a handful of companies that rent tubes and provide transportation to and from start and end points. Here are a few to check out:

Austin Float Trips
(512) 963-5628

Rockin "R" River RIdes
(830) 629-9999

Texas Tubes
(830) 626-9900

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Explore the Natural World at the Austin Nature & Science Center

July 31, 2012 by

Austin is widely regarded as the intellectual center of Texas, so it should come as no surprise that a world-class natural science museum rests inside its borders. The Austin Nature & Science Center was incorporated in 1960 to bring the natural world to Austin residents, and it has since become a very popular destination for families. One of the biggest attractions is the animal exhibits—it is stocked with over 90 native Texas animals that have either been recovered, injured, or abandoned, and can't be returned to the wild. Each animal has a story that goes along with it, some of which are quite heartbreaking. Other public exhibits include the Dino Dig area, which lets kids get into paleontology as they excavate for prehistoric fossils; and an outdoor raptor enclosure that lets visitors get amazingly close to some spectacular birds of prey. The best part about the Austin Nature & Science Center is that admission is completely free.

Austin Nature & Science Center
301 Nature Center Dr.
Austin, TX 78746
(512) 974-3888

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Experience the Best of Music With the Austin Symphony

July 24, 2012 by

With sweet-sounding music filling the air, family-friendly concerts, and school and public programs, the Austin Symphony has something for everyone. As Austin’s most seasoned performing arts group, the Symphony has provided countless seasons of brilliant music from talented musicians—it was founded way back in 1911! Symphony performances take place at The Long Center for Performing Arts, and include the Sarah & Ernest Butler Pops Series, an array of special family and children’s concerts, as well as a season of eight classical concerts from the Symphony. There are also a number of free concerts put on for the community, as well as seasonal performances like the Halloween Children’s Concert and the July 4th Concert and Fireworks.

Not a seasoned symphony go-er? Make sure to check out the Symphony website's special section on Tips for Beginners—find out what to wear, what to expect, and anything else you may need to know. You can also purchase tickets and see what concerts are coming up, here.

The Austin Symphony
1101 Red River
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 476-6064

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Pinballz Arcade: Full Tilt

July 3, 2012 by

Everything may be bigger in Texas, so imagine the size of the venue that avows to have the biggest stock of Pinball machines in the entire state! That’s the claim made by Pinballz Arcade of its 13,000 square-foot pinball and video game arcade and its 150-large stock of plugged-in pinball machines that span from a 1972 Lost World machine to a machine released in just 2011 for the TRON remake. And while pinball machines may be the eponymous hallmark of Pinballz Arcade, the place is replete with traditional and contemporary arcade games, like Mortal Kombat 3, Tekken 5, and Dance Dance Revolution. Pinballz Arcade is an obvious choice for birthday parties and it offers packages geared towards the young group looking to get lost in a cyclone of lights and sounds.

Pinballz Arcade
8940 Research Boulevard
Suite 100
Austin, TX 78758
(512) 420-8548
 

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Fun Facts About The Art of Dance

May 22, 2012 by
Dance is one of the oldest forms of nonverbal communication between people, prevalent in different forms in all cultures, dating back to the early stages of human life on earth. Chances are you’ve done some dancing yourself and may know the basics about today’s most popular dance forms like ballet, breakdancing, square dancing, and hip hop dancing. If you’re curious to know more about this ages-old art form, read on to learn some fascinating facts:
 
Dancing Away The Great Depression
During The Great Depression, dance contest marathons were a common way for people to escape their woes and earn some extra cash by winning prize money. Participants danced for hours and even whole days straight, taking only very occasional rests. Two Depression era dance marathoners named Mike Ritof and Edith Boudreaux danced for 214 days straight, setting a world record.
 
Origins of Ballet
Ballet began in Renaissance Italy, around the year 1500, when Catherine de Medici introduced new dance styles into French court life after her marriage to the king of France. In the early stages of ballet, the dancers wore heavy costumes and their garb limited their mobility, requiring ballet to consist of only very small repetitive motions. Later, when the dance form evolved over time and across various nationalities, the costumes became less elaborate and the art of ballet became freer and more complex. 
 
Peripheral Vision
You probably know that dancers enjoy many health benefits because of the constant exercise they undertake. But did you know that professional dancers also develop superior peripheral vision? Since most choreographed dance routines require prescribed head angles, dancers can’t turn their heads, and so they have to use their eyes if they want to look to the side. 
 
Ancient German Dancing
Many experts and dance scholars believe that the oldest surviving form of dance is the Austrian Schuhplattler (from the German for “shoe-dance”). The dance is so old that a written description of it exists in a poem written by a German monk 1030 called “Ruodlieb.” The dance apparently takes its inspiration from the mating ritual of a large grouse-like German bird called the capercaillie. 
 
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Get fit at Tree Apartments

February 4, 2012 by

Regular physical activity is one of the most important things you can do for your health. It can help:

  • Control your weight
  • Reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease
  • Reduce your risk for type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome
  • Reduce your risk of some cancers
  • Strengthen your bones and muscles
  • Improve your mental health and mood
  • Improve your ability to do daily activities and prevent falls, if you’re an older adult
  • Increase your chances of living longer

With all those benefits, why not get moving? All it takes to get started is to put on some sneaks and visit our fitness center that’s conveniently located right here at Tree Apartments.

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